Preview: Liverpool v Spurs The battle of the Giants
Two clubs at the top of the Premier League, with the Same points, but only separated by Spurs superior goal difference. On Wednesday either club can end the day on top of that league, or if only a draw is managed, then Spurs will stay top by default.
In the red corner is Manfred von Richthofen, better known as the Red Barron, but at Liverpool, he uses the secret identity, Jürgen Klopp. In the blue corner is the real McCoy, the man who has won everything with every club he has been to and who is in the process of turning the magnificent Spurs into a trophy-winning beast.
Yes, Wednesday night we will see who will be best equipped to go into the Christmas period with guts and determination.
TEAM NEWS
Liverpool
Liverpool will assess the fitness of Joel Matip, who was substituted with a back spasm at half-time of the draw against Fulham on Sunday. Their midfielder Naby Keita could be in contention for his 50th Premier League appearance if he is deemed fit after a muscle problem.
Tottenham Hotspur
Gareth Bale is still recovering from illness. Erik Lamela remains out. Apart from those two, everything looks tickety-boo. The players are raring to go.
My thoughts and prediction
Both teams drew over the weekend against inferior teams… However, Liverpool won’t be as bad as they were in the first half, and hopefully, we won’t be as bad as we were in the second half… which all makes for an exciting encounter or a boring match.
Even though we are good defensively, Liverpool have a dangerous front lineup. Hopefully, our defence will cancel their attacking forwards, while our pair of striking geniuses, Kane and Son will do the damage the other end.
I am hoping that they don’t cancel each other out and it turns out to be a dull Monty Python fish slapping contest, even though it wouldn’t be a bad result for us (that is if it was a draw).
This isn’t going to be a high scoring game. I am not going for a draw, but for us to win. Stating the bleeding bloody obvious, this match is vital to both teams. Whoever wins will get the bragging rights.
My prediction: 0-1 or 1-2
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
Liverpool have lost just one of their last 15 Premier League meetings (W10, D4). Their four most recent victories in this fixture have all come by a single goal.
Our only victory at Anfield in our last 26 Premier League visits came in May 2011.
We could lose six consecutive matches in all competitions against Liverpool for the first time.
Liverpool
Liverpool have dropped 11 points in the Premier League this season, just four fewer than in the entirety of 2019-20. It took them 35 matches to drop 11 points last season.
They have lost four league fixtures in 2020, the same amount as in 2018 and 2019 combined.
However, the Reds have won all six home league games this season by an aggregate score of 18-6. They’ve scored at least twice in each fixture.
They are unbeaten in 65 Premier League home matches since a 2-1 defeat against Crystal Palace in April 2017 (W54, D11).
Liverpool have won 10 successive Premier League home fixtures against established top-six teams.
They are the only club to have scored in all of their Premier League matches this season.
Sadio Mane has failed to score in seven successive Premier League appearances, his longest run without a goal for Liverpool.
Liverpool have been successful with their last 18 Premier League penalties, the most successful sequence since Sunderland scored 23 consecutive spot-kicks between March 2012 and January 2017.
Tottenham Hotspur
We have won seven league games and drawn four since losing our opening match of the season against Everton.
We are unbeaten in all six Premier League away fixtures this season, winning four and drawing two.
We have claimed 70 points under Jose Mourinho – only Manchester City (75) and Liverpool (90) have better records since he joined Spurs.
However, Mourinho has never won away against Jurgen Klopp in five attempts in all competitions (D2, L3), his longest run without an away win against any manager.
The goal we let in at Crystal Palace last weekend ended a run of 475 minutes without conceding.
Harry Kane and Son have combined for 12 goals this season, just one short of Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton’s Premier League record, set in 1994-95.
Son (10) and Kane (9) have scored 19 of our 24 Premier League goals this season.
Kane has scored in four games at Anfield but has never ended on the winning side, drawing two and losing two.
So, that is it. Let battle commence. Winning will mean that the papers will start taking us seriously and stop putting us down. Ignoring us in favour of Liverpool, City or Chelsea to win the league.
Best regards, and keep safe,
Glenn COYS!
My name is Glenn Renshaw.
I am currently a Premium Season Ticket holder (West Stand) in the new stadium. Before that – at White Hart Lane – a season ticket holder in various parts of the ground (mainly in the North stand).
Before becoming a season ticket holder, I stood on the shelf and various other parts of the ground since the 1950s. In 1987 I became one of the first to hold a Spurs Membership card. I was also a life long member of the Spurs supporters club (now defunct).
I go to all home, away and abroad matches.
I was born in 1955, Edgware, London (it was in the late 50s – as a baby – that my dad took me to Spurs to initiate me). I currently live in Berkshire.
I also collect all Spurs books (and have everyone printed), Spurs handbooks (from 1920s onwards, Spurs programmes (since the 40s).
Previously, I wrote for Spurs Fanzines: The Spur, Spur of the Moment, My Eyes have seen the Glory and various other Spurs fanzines’. I also wrote for the SpursWeb app & its website.
I currently write and work for spursnetwork.com and its website. I write its Reviews & Match reports and a lot more.
My other interests are; reading, history, social history, Politics, going to the gym, wine, going out for a meal, music (all sorts), writing, theatre, concerts, going on holidays, socialising etc.
I have been writing blogs/ articles since 1989
If you wish to read more of my blog, please click “here”
